Display rack



A Jan. 21, 1941. F. D. GREFFIN I 2,229,501

DTSPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l ilk 7 INVENTOR.fwd/7cm 6/ /727/7 ATTORNEYs Jan. 21, 1941. v GRlFFlN 2,229,501

DISPLAY RA CK Filed Jan. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY$ PatentedJan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK ApplicationJanuary 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,313

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display racks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a display rack which is well adapted for the displayof packets of seeds and which although of large capacity is quite lightin weight and collapsible into compact form for storage or shipment.

Second, to provide a collapsible rack embodying these advantages whichis formed of wire of light gauge rod throughout and the parts are soarranged and braced as to be sturdy when erected and at the same timecapable of rapid manipulation in erecting and collapsing.

Third, to provide in a display rack for seed packets and the like animproved tray construction which permits the effective display of alarge number of seed packets and one which may i be readily dusted andcleaned.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a structure embodying my invention, aquantity of packets being indicated by dotted lines in one of the trayunits.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rack when collapsed for shipment orstorage.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stand or pedestal portion of therack with the tray removed and the tray supporting strut collapsed.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view from front to rear ofthe rack in erected position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tray unit removed from thesupporting base or pedestal.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing adisplay or identification card in position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 'l''! of Fig.1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a pocket element which may be employedin the tray units if desired.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I provide a pedestal orstand or base comprising a top frame designated generally by the numeralI and comprising a front member 2, rear member 3, and end members 4,these being preferably formed of a single piece of wire or light rodstock. This top frame is provided with crossed braces 5 which permitsthe use of comparatively light gauge stock.

Front and rear frame members designated generally by the numerals 6 and'l are provided and these are U-shaped, the arms 8 of the front 5 member6 being provided with rearwardly offset eyes 9 pivotally securing thefront member to the front piece 2 of the top frame. The bight of theU-shaped member. constitutes: a bottom cross piece. Diagonal crossbraces Ill are provided for 10 the front member.

The arms ll of the rear member I are provided with inwardly offset eyesI2 pivotally engaging the rear member 3 of the top frame.

Leg members designated generally by the nu- 15 meral I 3 are providedeach consisting of front legs M and rear legs [5 connected by the bottomcross piece It and the diagonal crossed braces ll. The legs have offseteyes I'll at their upper ends engaging the end members of the top frame.20 The legs likewise have offset eyes H3 at their lower ends formingstable supporting feet for the legs. The rear legs are preferablyprovided with reinforcing members I9. The offset eyes of the leg and thefront and rear upright members 6 and I are such as to permit these partsbeing collapsed into substantially parallel relation with the top frameas is shown in Fig. 2.

To secure the parts in erected position, I provide clips consisting ofthe clip members 20 and 2| and the clamping bolts 22. The clip members20 are spot-Welded at 23 to the arm portions of the front and rearupright members for maintaining the parts in assembled position andfacilitating the engagement and disengagement of the clips. The bolts 22are provided with thumb nuts 24. When the parts are swung to erectedposition as shown in Fig. 3, the clips are clamped upon the adjacentlegs thereby effectively securing the parts in erected position.However, when the clips are released the parts may be compactly foldedas shown in Fig. 2 for storage or transportation.

The tray supporting strut 25 is of bail-shape, its arms being providedwith eyes 26 and pivotally engaging the rear member 3 of the top frame.The strut has diagonal cross braces 27 welded to the arms thereof.

I will now describe the tray which in the preferred embodimentillustrated comprises the frame consisting of a front bottom member 23,rear bottom member 29, and top side members 39 with the corner uprights3i formed integrally, a piece of wire or light rod of suitable gaugebeing bent to' the shape clearly shown in Fig. 5. The

top front member 32 has down-turned ends 33 welded to the corneruprights 3!. It is further connected to the bottom front member 28 bymeans of the tie pieces 34. The bottom side members 35 are welded to thecorner uprights of the frame and are further connected thereto by thetie pieces 56. This provides a rigid wire frame to receive the trayunits which in themselves constitute tie and reinforcing members aswill. be described.

Each tray unit comprises a plurality of spaced U-shaped Wire members 31,the rear arms of which are substantially longer than their front arms,as shown in Fig. 4, the arms being connected by the top cross members 38which are welded to -the arms of the members 31 and also welded to thetop side members 30. The bottom cross member 39 is welded to the bightportions of the members 30, being disposed on the underside thereof. Itwill be noted that the front cross member of one tray unit is disposedat the side of the rear cross member of the tray unit in advancethereof. The rear cross member 40 of the rear tray unit is preferably ofa larger diameter than the other cross member and constitutes aneffective rear top member for the tray. These tray units are adapted toreceive packets of seeds as indicated at H in Fig. 1, or if desired,pocket members 12 may be dropped into the tray units, these pocketmembers consisting of a tray or boxlike body portion with a partitionmember 3 therein, the partition member having zigzag folds or loops, thebights of which are secured to the side walls of the tray. This providesa holder in which seed packets may be carried about if desired.

The front member of the frame is provided with upwardly facing U-shapedholders 44 adapted to receive the bottom member 28 of the rack unit andto beretained therein by the cotter pin 45 thereby detachably andpivotally connecting the tray to the top frame of the pedestal so thatthe tray may be collapsed into parallel relation to the top frame asshown in Fig. 2.

The strut 2'! is engageable between an adjacent pair of tray units, asshown in Fig. 4, the tray being swung up so that the strut may be swungunder itin a position to bring its cross braces or bight between a pairof the tray units. This forms a very secure support for these parts. Thefront arms of the front tray unit are preferably spotwelded to the fronttop member 32 as indicated in Fig. 6.

The reinforcing members l9 may be applied to all four of the legsinstead-of the rear legs, as shown in Fig. 3, but they are particularlydesirable on the rear legs. They also serve as guards to preventclothing from engaging with the clips.

To receive display cards or cards bearing information such as the cardsM, I provide the top and bottom front frame members 28 and 32 withfacing U-shaped card holders 46, these being welded to the respectiveframe members, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood of course thatthe display cards 4? may be changed as desired.

Structures embodying my invention may be formed of relatively lightstock and when erected are strong and rigid, at the same time arecapable of being compactly collapsed for shipment or storage.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in one practicalvcommercial embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myimprovements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a display rack, the combination of a pedestal or stand comprisinga top frame having integrally connected front, rear and end members,U-shaped front and rear upright members having inwardly offset eyes atthe upper ends of the arms thereof pivotally engaging respectively withthe front and rear -members of the top frame, leg members comprisingconnected front and rear legs having inwardly ofiset eyes at their upperends pivotally engaging the end members of the top frame, the offsets ofthe eyes pivotally connecting the front and rear members and the saidleg members to the top frame being such as to permit collapsing of themembers upon each other in substantially parallel relation with the topframe, clips for detachably securing the legs of the leg members to thefront and rear upright members, a collapsible bail-shaped strutpivotally mounted on the rear member of the top frame to be collapsedthereon, and a tray pivotally connected to the front member of the topframe to be collapsed thereon over the collapsed strut, said tray beingprovided with a pair of tray units adapted to removably receive thebight of said bail-shaped strut between them for supporting the tray inits erected position.

2. In a display rack, the combination of a pedestal or stand comprisinga top frame havin integrally connected front, rear and end members,U-shaped front and rear uprightmembers having inwardly offset eyes atthe upper ends of the arms thereof pivotally engaging respectively withthe front and rear members of the top frame, leg members comprisingconnected front and rear legs having inwardly offset eyes at their upperends pivotally engaging the end members of the top frame, the offsets ofthe eyes pivotally connecting the front and rear members and the saidleg members to the top frame being such as to permit collapsing of themembers upon each other in substantially parallel relation with the topframe, clips provided with clamping bolts for securing the legs of theleg members to the front and rear upright members, one element of eachclip being secured to an upright member for retaining them in assembledrelation therewith, and a collapsible tray supporting strut pivotallymounted on the rear member of the top frame to be collapsed thereon,

3. A display rack comprising a base having top, front, rear, and endmembers of wire construction, said front, rear, and end members being ofU-configuration with the arms thereof extending upwardly and terminatingin eyes. pivotally connected to the top member whereby the aforesaidpivotally connected members are capable of swinging movement intocompact parallel relation to the top member, an inclined stepped traypivotally connected at its front to said top member and capable ofswinging movement into parallel relation thereto, said tray having aplurality of rows of laterally spaced wire elements disposed in upwardlyextending stepped relation and longitudinal and lateral elements forsecuring said spaced elements in operative relation, and a strut memberpivotally connected to said top member, whereby to be swingable intoparallelism thereto and engaging beneath said tray in erected positionof the rack to brace and support the tray, said front and rear membershaving clips for securing the same to the end members of said base.

4. A display rack comprising a table-like base having rectangular top,front, rear, and end members of wire construction, said front, rear, andend members being of U-configuration with the arms thereof extendingupwardly and terminating in eyes pivotally connected to the top memberwhereby the aforesaid pivotally connected members are capable ofswinging movement into compact parallel relation to the top member, atray pivotally connected at its front to said top member and capable ofswinging movement into parallel relation thereto, and a strut memberpivotally connected to said top member, whereby to be swingable intoparallelism thereto and engaging beneath said tray in erected positionof the rack to brace and support the tray, said front and rear membershaving clips for securing the same'to the end members of said base.

5. A display rack comprising a table-like base having rectangular top,front, rear, and end members, said front, rear, and end members being ofU-configuration with the arms thereof extending upwardly and terminatingin eyes. pivotally connected to the top member whereby the aforesaidpivotally connected members are capable of swinging movement intocompact parallel relation to the top member, a tray pivotally connectedat its front to said top member and capable of swinging movement intoparallel relation thereto, said tray having a plurality of rows ofcompartments disposed in upwardly extending stepped relation, and a traysupporting member pivotally connected to said top member and engagingsaid tray to brace and support the same and swingable into parallelismwith said top member.

6. A Wire display rack comprising a wire base, a tray pivotallyconnected to said base at the front thereof, said tray comprising acontinuous wire border member, transverse members welded to said bordermember in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, a plurality ofU-shaped wire members welded to said transverse members in spacedrelation transversely of the border member to constitute spacedelongated transverse pockets, the legs of said U-shaped members being ofunequal length, and means pivotally connected to said base at the rearthereof and engageable between a pair of said pockets to support thetray in inclined position on the base whereby to position said pocketsin vertically opening arrangement.

7. In a display rack, the combination of a tray frame comprising pairsof vertically spaced side members, a plurality of tray units arranged insuccession from front to rear of the frame and each comprising spacedupright U-shaped members disposed in the vertical space defined by saidside members, top cross members welded to the ends of the respectivearms of said U-shaped members and to the top frame side members, and abottom cross member welded to the bights of said U-shaped members, thetop cross members welded to the front and rear arms of successive of thetray units being disposed side by side.

.8. In a display rack, the combination of a tray frame comprising pairsof vertically spaced side members, a plurality of tray units arranged insuccession from front to rear of the frame and each comprising spacedupright U-shaped members disposed in the vertical space defined by saidside members, top cross members welded to the respective arms of saidU-shaped members and to the top frame side members, and a further crossmember welded to said U-shaped members, the top cross members welded tothe front and rear arms of successive of the tray units being disposedside by side.

9. In a display rack, the combination of a tray frame comprising frontand rear bottom members and side top members and corner uprightsintegrally connecting said members, bottom side members and a front topmember having their ends secured to said corner uprights, said side topand bottom members and said front top and bottom members being connectedby uprights welded thereto, and a plurality of tray units eachcomprising spaced upright U-shaped members, top cross members Welded tothe ends of the arms of said U-shaped members and to the top frame sidemembers, and a bottom cross member welded to the bights of said U-shapedmembers, the front and rear top cross members of adjacent tray unitsbeing disposed side by side, the rear cross member of the rear tray unitbeing of larger diameter than the other tray unit cross top members andconstituting a rear frame top member.

10. In a display rack, the combination of a tray frame comprising frontand rear bottom members and side top members and corner uprightsintegrally connecting said members, bottom side members and a front topmember having their ends secured to said corner uprights, said side topand bottom members and said front top and bottom members being connectedby uprights welded thereto, and a plurality of tray units eachcomprising spaced upright U-shaped members, top cross members welded tothe ends of the arms of said U-shaped members and to the top frame sidemembers, and a bottom cross member welded to the bights of said U-shapedmembers.

11. In a display rack, the combination of a pedestal or stand comprisingatop frame, U- shaped front and rear upright members pivotally engagedwith said top frame, leg members comprising connected front and rearlegs pivotally engaged with said top frame, clips for detachablyconnecting the legs with the adjacent arms of the front and rear uprightmembers, and loop-like reinforcing members for the rear legs fixedlysecured thereto to embrace the clips connecting the same to the arms ofthe rear member and constituting guards for the clips.

12. In a display rack, the combination of a pedestal or stand comprisinga top frame, front and rear upright members pivotally connected to saidtop: frame, leg members comprising connected front and rear legspivotally connected to said top frame, clips having threaded clampingmeans associated therewith for detachably connecting the legs with theadjacent arms of the front and rear upright members, and reinforcingmembers for certain of the legs fixedly secured thereto to embrace theclips connecting the same to the adjacent arms of the upright member andconstituting guards for the clips.

FRANCIS D. GRIFFIN.

